“Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.” — David Starr
That David Starr quote accompanies the “Account Settings” page of a new “to-do” web application. Tina Roth Eisenberg, Brooklyn’s celebrated Swiss implant in the design community, teamed up with her workspace mates Fictive Kin to create this gorgeously simple app, which launched today and is free to use!
Here’s how it began:
It all started a few months back, when I got into a conversation with my studiomate Cameron about to-do apps. I have tried pretty much every to do-app there is but always wanted a different layout or feature set, mostly, LESS features. I figured out what works for me (a weekview, with the ability to check things off) but I couldn’t find it anywhere. After I gave Cameron my vision of what ‘my’ perfect to-do app would look like, he simply said: “Well, design it and Evan and I will build it!” And that’s exactly what we did. TeuxDeux is the first collaboration between FictiveKin and swissmiss.
On bottom right of the screen is a tab to leave feedback. I’ve left mine: the ability to edit an existing task (in the event that you can’t bare to watch a typo).
This Saturday, Dec 5, I hope to attend the opening reception of “Wearing Whitman’s Words; A Typographic Exploration” at Red Hook’s Lucky Gallery from 6-9 PM. Everyone will walk out with a free t-shirt featuring work that’s being exhibited!
The exhibition will showcase works by Friends of Type, Jennifer Heuer, Jessica Hische, Justin Thomas Kay, Pablo A. Medina, Ed Nacional, Meg Paradise, Pillow Fort, and Travis Simon, almost all of whom are based in Brooklyn. They were asked to design selections from Whitman’s Leaves of Grass specifically for this show. The designed type will be featured on the front of t-shirts and the plain text placed on the back: “This contrast will highlight how the shape of letters can add meaning to the words we read.” See Details.
(Above) Left: Pablo A. Medina; Right: Justin Thomas Kay
Anyone thinking of going to this on Saturday? Admission is free!
Saturday Dec 5th 2009 (11 AM - 7 PM) The first-annual Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival *free admission* presented by Desert Island and PictureBox
at Our Lady of Consolation Church
184 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Every now and then during the day I hear a blooming and marvelous sound of fiddles. It’s easy to tell they’re rehearsing, and that this isn’t someone playing a CD, because they often play the same parts several times after sudden interruptions. The other day I followed the sound and it led me to my bathroom window, out of which I saw a few bodiless fiddling hands, with anonymous voices commenting on what they’d just played. That building has the exact layout as mine (I know, because once I mistakenly went all the way up thinking it was my building), so I now know which apartment the fiddlers rehearse in. I will be sending them a letter!
As you may know, Veer is a merchant that caters to creative professionals; they sell things graphic designers like myself might find handy in their line of work, from typefaces to stock photography. Last week they hosted a contest asking people to re-create their logo using real objects. Since I never enter any contest, I decided to submit three entries, two of which I’ve posted below. They have just announced the results—I didn’t win the grand prize, but I did make it to the 10 runners-up list, which is good enough for me; by the way you can actually still vote for me, and why the hell wouldn’t you? Regardless, take a look at the entire gallery.
These were my main entries:
1) Fritter Veer
2) Sticky Veer
This sticky rice was bought from the Chinese take-out place on St. John’s and Franklin. And I’m pretty sure the potatoes and the oil were bought from Fisher’s, hah.
If you’re a creative professional in the area (Crown Heights / Prospect Heights), we want to see your work. Write to us! crownheightscreative at gmail dot com
Everyone’s excited about the two new coffee shops that have sprung up on Franklin Ave, almost simultaneously, right?—I mean, people have moved out since I last talked to them about coffee options!
The Pulp and the Bean is at the corner of Franklin Ave and Eastern Parkway, right by the subway entrance. The coffee there seems good enough and reasonably priced, and though they don’t seem to carry Whole Wheat “Everything” bagel, the version I ordered was nutty and maybe even better in a way. The space is tiny, but two benches were added recently, and over the weekend it was nice to see, at the very least, 5 strangers from the neighborhood congregated in that one tiny space.
The Breukelen Coffee House, named after the Dutch town from which this borough borrows its name, is at the corner of St. John’s Pl and Franklin Ave, by the laundromat. Based on the 5 minutes I spent there waiting for my Cappuccino, the person behind the counter seemed especially friendly and enthusiastic. The space is bigger here, with more options of seating, a big plus, even though The Pulp and the Bean has done a slightly better job of a “warm” atmosphere. But of course they’ve barely started.
Hurray, in any case. Have you been to any of these coffee shops yet? What did you think?
These Are Powers is based in Crown Heights (Anna from the band just told us that they print all their shirts at About Time on Franklin Ave), and their music video for “Easy Answers” premiered on Pitchfork recently. Have you seen it yet?
They’re heading out on a big China tour soon, but upon their return you can catch them at the Whitney Museum on July 31.
If you live in Crown Heights and you have a band, drop us a line.
When DC/Kentucky-based band These United States was in town to play Union Hall back in February, we shot parts of their music video for “Honor Amongst Thieves” right in this neighborhood. Wait for the bicycle thieving scene. It was mostly shot around Lincoln Pl between Franklin and Bedford.
“Honor Amongst Thieves”
From the album, Crimes (United Interests, 2008) These United States
Directed by: Sarahana (that’s me)
Just got word from the folks at About Time, the hip clothing and accessories shop on Franklin Avenue, that BET’sThe Deal will be filming at the store tomorrow between 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM. This will be the store’s second appearance on that channel, the first being a week-long feature on Rap City back in May 2008. Watch out for celebrity guests tomorrow!
Hello Crown Heights, Hooves on the Turf is a music blog run out of this neighborhood, and we’re really excited to bring our very first (trippy-rock-type) show here.
May 25th. 6pm onwards. FREE. All-ages. Graciously hosted at: Homage (backyard), 636 Park Pl, at Franklin Avenue
I hope you’ll come out so that we can organize more shows ’round here. There will be HORNS! Also, there will be flyers to hand out, so do get in touch: crownheightscreative at gmail dot com
Anyone from the neighborhood is also welcome to join in on the organization of things if you are so willing. Like for example, help us borrow a PA system. Thank you!
